
12/24/2022
Franconia remembers Christmas Past and the unique holiday memories of some of our long-time residents. Read more here: https://mailchi.mp/fb5f5d5b3955/historic-gifts-6215630
The Franconia Museum is a non-profit local history museum dedicated to preserving the history of the
Looking across six lanes of traffic on Franconia Road, it is difficult to imagine that it was once a rural "rolling road" for Virginia to***co on its way to the port city of Alexandria. Before it was a bedroom community, Franconia was the birthplace of the first Virginia governor from Northern Virginia, witness to a Mosby raid, and a thriving Afro-American community called Carrolltown. We at the F
Looking across six lanes of traffic on Franconia Road, it is difficult to imagine that it was once a rural "rolling road" for Virginia to***co on its way to the port city of Alexandria. Before it was a bedroom community, Franconia was the birthplace of the first Virginia governor from Northern Virginia, witness to a Mosby raid, and a thriving Afro-American community called Carrolltown. We at the F
Operating as usual
Franconia remembers Christmas Past and the unique holiday memories of some of our long-time residents. Read more here: https://mailchi.mp/fb5f5d5b3955/historic-gifts-6215630
Historic Museum Gifts! - https://mailchi.mp/df21f59b4641/historic-gifts-6212934
Historic Last-Minute Museum Gifts! - https://mailchi.mp/b4739fc9078a/historic-gifts
The Franconia Museum is open NOW with Black Friday deals until 5:00 pm! Drop by and meet Don Hakenson and Nathaniel Lee for great gift ideas for the holidays!
Historic Black Friday Deals from the Franconia Museum! Grab our new bobblehead mascot to celebrate our 20th anniversary, plus deals on tour books and much more! - https://mailchi.mp/d07bef90d6a6/historic-black-friday-deals
Never forget! The Franconia Museum remembers the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack. - https://mailchi.mp/870de9c0cb22/never-forget
Thank you to our esteemed Fairfax County History Commissioner, Lynne Garvey-Hodge and Sydenstricker Schoolhouse for sharing this wonderful article. The more things change, the more things stay the same. We learn to be resourceful in difficult times. ❤
This isn't the first time America's schoolchildren have studied remotely – and Chicago's 1937 'radio school' experiment shows how technology can fill the gap during a crisis.
The Franconia Museum celebrates 20 years! - https://mailchi.mp/208057417f6a/the-franconia-museum-celebrates-20-years
The Franconia Museum sadly notes the passing of Jimmy Woodard, a member of our senior advisory board, who entered the hospital on December 18, 2020 for an aortic heart valve replacement but succumbed to other causes on December 23. Jimmy was the second paid fireman (1955) at Franconia Volunteer Fire Department, Woodie Smith being the first (1949). A lifetime member of the FVFD, Jimmy also served as numerous other stations in the county. In recent years, his knowledge of days gone by in Franconia has been a major resource as the Museum tries to get it history straight. An expanded memory of this remarkable man and community friend will appear in the 2021 museum newsletter. The Museum also plans a Memorial Program for Joe Alexander, Linn Welch and Jimmy Woodard when the Covid-19 pandemic subsides and we can personally gather to remember to remember them.
Here is a stunning new look at the Lee District area in 1937 with thanks to our partners at Fairfax County GIS and White Clouds Media. Notice no highways exist yet and look at all the dairy farms.
The Franconia Museum is currently looking for letter jackets from Hayfield, Lee, Mount Vernon, Edison and Annandale. If you, or someone you know, have one and want to add it to our display, please let us know at [email protected]
Please visit the Franconia Museum, at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310 on Dec 21-23, 2020, Monday through Wednesday from 10am to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm (extra Holiday hours) for some late Christmas shopping! Carl Sell, Nathaniel Lee and yours truly Don Hakenson will be available to sign their books! I hope you stop by and say hello! So bring your mask and stay safe!
Holiday News from the Franconia Museum - https://mailchi.mp/2f9985eddd3b/uib03taen6
LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING AT FRANCONIA MUSEUM DEC 21-24!
The Francinia Museum will be open extra hours Christmas week so you can pick up items about your hometown for other Franconians on your list. The Museum will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, the doors will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Our books about the history of Franconia people and places are only $10 each. Also have Franconia Museum caps, book bags and note cards. Don Hakenson, Nathaniel Lee and Carl Sell also will be on hand to sell and sign their books.
Copies of the latest Franconia Museum newsletter, which includes and 8-page section about the late Lee District Supervisor Joe Alexander also will be available for $5. (Members get the newsletter free).
Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. If you can't make it to the Museum, order online at Franconiamuseum.org. Go to the e-page, make your selections and pay online. We'll fill your order just as soon as we can.
The Historic Sites Volunteer Corps is looking for volunteers to help with a landscape clean-up at the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park on Saturday, December 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please contact Ed Ehlers at 703-475-2268. Parking is very limited at 7400 Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315.
Joe Alexander's wife, Davie, has donated a number of his treasured mementoes to the Franconia Museum. Joe was a valued supporter of the museum while he was alive, often serving as a volunteer docent. His memory now graces our displays. Visit to see more.
Rest in Peace Sir.
Share Memories and Support the Family.
VIDEO and STORY: Step inside the one-room Franconia Museum and learn more about this historically-rich area south of Alexandria City. Special thanks to reporter/videographer Michael P. Salmon on assignment for Zebra on this one.
For all the historical events that took place in Franconia, you can bet there is something about them in the Franconia Museum. The one-room
Local Lore and More at the Franconia Museum - The Zebra
For all the historical events that took place in Franconia, you can bet there is something about them in the Franconia Museum. The one-room
Rest in peace Joe.
View JOSEPH ALEXANDER's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.
PASSING OF JOE ALEXANDER
The Franconia Museum is deeply saddened by the death of Joe Alexander, a Founding Friend, supporter and volunteer at the Museum in the government center on Franconia Road. He died at his home on Craft Road on Sunday, August 30, after returning there from a long stay in the hospital. Joe was the Lee District member of the Board of Supervisors for 31 years and is responsible for most of the modern facilities we enjoy today. Yet, he never forgot about the past and always worked to make things better, not just change for change sake. It's hard to imagine that when he became Supervisor that most of Franconia depended on well water and septic fields, the roads were narrow and it was a long way to the bank and a major grocery store. Now, we depend without a second thought on the excellent services he created. Joe was a Franconia Boy through and through, and we are all the better for it, even if you never knew him.
Condolences to Joe's wife, Davie, and his daughters Cathi and Cheri and Cheri's daughter, Stephanie. They lit up his life!
Come on out and visit the Franconia Museum where you can view our new history panels of Betty Cannon, actress Amelita Ward, as well as NFL veteran Pat Toomay of the Edison Eagles are all on display in the hallway.They are all Francinians.
The Government Center is open, 6121 Franconia Road. Many others also on display with more inside the Museum, which is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Masks and social Distancing required until further notice on the door.
The Museum has a new sign in front of the Governmental Center that illuminates at night. Check it out as you drive by!
Franconia Museum will hold an Open House between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at its headquarters in the Franconia Government Center on Saturday, May 16, 2020. The government center is located at 6121 Franconia Road. There will be displays in the community room across from the Museum as well as music by Charlie Wood and Terry Lee. Featured will be a replica of Fitzgerald's Store and displays from Laurel Grove School and Nalls Produce as well as one about the railroad that helps define local history. Samples of nostalgic food items will be given out. Food items will not be on sale. Tea and water will be available. Heading up the program will be appearances by Freddie/Frankie Franconia, the Museum's new mascot. The mascot will pose for pictures with youngsters of all ages but will take breaks between appearances in the community room. If you are a Franconian, or wish to learn more about our historic community, put this event on your must do list
Help protect the community you cherish. Become a member of the Franconia Museum today.
CHRISTMAS HOURS FOR BOOK SALES AT FRANCONIA MUSEUM! The Museum will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18 through Friday, December 21 for sales of Museum books and books by members Don Hakenson, Nathaniel Lee and Carl Sell. Cash or credit cards accepted! Museum book bags available to carry home your gifts. Don Hakenson will be there to personally autograph copies about John Singleton Mosby.and the popular "This Forgotten Land" about the history of the Franconia area. Nathaniel Lee's "Iron Road of Franconia" about the railroad that runs through the community also will be available. Carl Sell writes about his ancestors and Jeb Stuart in the Civil War and activities at Snickers Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains. All of the Museum's Franconia Remembers series will be available. The Museum books provide a home-town look at the people who created the community we enjoy today.
If you enjoy shopping with Amazon and love our museum, then you will definitely love AmazonSmile! The concept is simple: for every purchase you make using AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate a percentage of that to us. No extra fees and the same purchase price you would get on Amazon.com. How cool is that?!
Make the Franconia Museum your AmazonSmile charity and a portion of your online purchases get donated to help support our preservation efforts at smile.amazon.com/ch/32-0003852
You missed a good time if you didn’t make it.
Here is the program of events for History Day!
Come out to have Charlie Wood and Terry Lee Ryan of the Mount Calvary Singers put a song in your heart at Franconia's WWI History Day at the Franconia Firehouse on Beulah Street! Sunday, November 18, from 12-4pm!
The Franconia Museum will be observing the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War 1 as the theme of this year's Franconia History Day. When I read about the plans for the day I noticed that the unit they were describing sounded very familiar to me. Sure enough I have an Alexandria ancestor that was killed France on October 25, 1918, and he was assigned to Company F, 116th Infantry Regiment, of the 29th Infantry Division. His name was Lee B. Magner, my great-great uncle, my Great Grandmother's half brother. So I pulled some photos from my archives and have loaded them here to honor him. He was not from Franconia, but during his short lifetime he lived in DC, Alexandria and Fairfax County in a little community called Sideburn near Fairfax Station.
The Franconia Museum honors those men of Fairfax County who served their country in the Great War.
Stoney Coppage just became the 1000th person to like the Franconia Museum page. I can't think of a person with more Franconia roots than Stoney. He went to Franconia Elementary School and was an outstanding athlete at Edison in the class of 1972. He lived right in the heart of Franconia, at the corner of Franconia Road and Valley View Drive, next to Franconia Hardware. I remember watching at least one Franconia Fire Department Labor Day Parade from his front yard in the 1960s.
6121 Franconia Road
Alexandria, VA
22310
Monday | 10am - 2pm |
Tuesday | 10am - 2pm |
Wednesday | 10am - 2pm |
Saturday | 10am - 2pm |
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Franconia Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Franconia Museum:
Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
Richmond HighwayStabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
S Fairfax StreetFairfax Museum and Visitor Center
Main Street, FairfaxHistoric Blenheim/Civil War Interpretive Cent
Old Lee Highway, FairfaxFairfax Station Railroad Museum
Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax StationClara Barton Missing Soldiers Office
7th Street NW, Washington D.C.Kogod Courtyard - Smithsonian American Art Mu
And F Streets, NW, Washington D.C.Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum
Fort Place SE, Washington D.C.Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
S Fairfax StreetFrank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
Richmond Highway